Maurice Peress News

Playing to a sold-out Aeolian Hall on February 12, 1924, violinist-conductor Paul Whiteman led his dance band in a program of popular and jazz repertoire. His “Experiment in Modern Music” culminated in the premiere of a piece commissioned for the occasion: Rhapsody in Blue, featuring its composer, George Gershwin, at the piano.

Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks with Conductor Maurice Peress present the 90th Anniversary Celebration of Rhapsody in Blue on February 12 at The Town Hall in NYC.

It may be one of the greatest combinations of classical music with jazz and pop ever created by an American-born composer, and this February 12 it will be 90 years since the immortal George Gershwin first played his 'Rhapsody in Blue' for an audience. Bandleader Vince Giordano and Conductor Maurice Peress, who share a love for American music, have joined forces to honor Paul Whiteman's historic Aeolian Hall concert on the same day and the same block where Gershwin's amazing piece was introduced nine decades ago. This concert will be on Wednesday, February 12th, at The Town Hall, 123 West 43rd Street, NYC, at 8:00pm for a one-time-only performance. Tickets are modestly priced ranging from $25 to $40 and will be available at www.ticketmaster.com or at The Town Hall box office.

The Deer Valley Music Festival, summer home of Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, is celebrating ten years of music in the mountains with a festival lineup that highlights the diversity of the orchestra and its audience. The 2013 Festival features seventeen performances from June 29 to August 10 at venues in Park City, Utah, including ten performances at Deer Valley Resort's Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheatre which was recently highlighted by CNN as one of eight 'amazing' outdoor concert venues. The first three Festival events will take place on June 29, July 5 and July 6.

Saxophonist Jimmy Heath first appeared at the Blue Note in 1984 and has become a regular throughout the club's 31 year history. He has also celebrated three birthdays at the club for his 70th, 80th and 85th birthdays. Join us as we celebrate Jimmy's 86th birthday with his stellar big band featuring Antonio Hart (alto sax and flute), Sharel Cassity (alto sax and flute),Charles Davis (tenor sax), Andres Boiarsky (tenor sax and flute), Gary Smulyan (baritone sax), Frank Greene (trumpet), Greg Gisbert (trumpet), Freddie Hendrix (trumpet), Diego Urcola (trumpet), Steve Davis (trombone), Jason Jackson (trombone), John Mosca(trombone), Douglas Purviance (bass trombone), Jeb Patton (piano), David Wong (bass), and Lewis Nash (drums).

For a combination of jazz dialogue, education, and live performance, look no further than the National Jazz Museum in September.

DAVID AMRAM: The First 80 Years Jazz, a spectacular, historic celebration of a true American original whom the Washington Post has described as 'one of the most versatile and skilled musicians America has ever produced,' will be presented by Jazz Forum Arts on Thursday, November 11, 2010 at 7:30 PM at Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street, in Manhattan, it was announced by Mark Morganelli, Executive Director of the presenting organization. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Clearwater, the organization founded by Pete Seeger, as well as the Woody Guthrie Foundation. Tickets for DAVID AMRAM: The First 80 Years are: $75, $55 and $35 (members, students, seniors: $70, $50 and $30; children: $65, $45 and $25) and can be purchased at the Symphony Space Box Office, 212.864.5400, or at http://www.symphonyspace.org. For information about Jazz Forum Arts, call 888.99.BEBOP, or visit http://www.jazzforumarts.org/.

DAVID AMRAM: The First 80 Years Jazz, a spectacular, historic celebration of a true American original whom the Washington Post has described as "one of the most versatile and skilled musicians America has ever produced," will be presented by Jazz Forum Arts on Thursday, November 11, 2010 at 7:30 PM at Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street, in Manhattan, it was announced by Mark Morganelli, Executive Director of the presenting organization.

DAVID AMRAM: The First 80 Years Jazz, a spectacular, historic celebration of a true American original whom the Washington Post has described as 'one of the most versatile and skilled musicians America has ever produced,' will be presented by Jazz Forum Arts on Thursday, November 11, 2010 at 7:30 PM at Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street, in Manhattan, it was announced by Mark Morganelli, Executive Director of the presenting organization. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Clearwater, the organization founded by Pete Seeger, as well as the Woody Guthrie Foundation.

DAVID AMRAM: The First 80 Years Jazz, a spectacular, historic celebration of a true American original whom the Washington Post has described as 'one of the most versatile and skilled musicians America has ever produced,' will be presented by Jazz Forum Arts on Thursday, November 11, 2010 at 7:30 PM at Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street, in Manhattan, it was announced by Mark Morganelli, Executive Director of the presenting organization. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Clearwater, the organization founded by Pete Seeger, as well as the Woody Guthrie Foundation. Tickets for DAVID AMRAM: The First 80 Years are: $75, $55 and $35 (members, students, seniors: $70, $50 and $30; children: $65, $45 and $25) and can be purchased at the Symphony Space Box Office, 212.864.5400, or at http://www.symphonyspace.org. For information about Jazz Forum Arts, call 888.99.BEBOP, or visit http://www.jazzforumarts.org/.

DAVID AMRAM: The First 80 Years Jazz, a spectacular, historic celebration of a true American original whom the Washington Post has described as "one of the most versatile and skilled musicians America has ever produced," will be presented by Jazz Forum Arts on Thursday, November 11, 2010 at 7:30 PM at Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street, in Manhattan, it was announced by Mark Morganelli, Executive Director of the presenting organization.

The Dvorak American Heritage Association will feature An Evening with George Mraz & Friends on Friday, February 26th. World-renowned jazz bassist George Mraz was presented The Medal of the President of The Czech Republic for Lifetime Achievement on his 65th birthday, June 10, 2009 at the Prague Castle. Known for his historic work with jazz icons Stan Getz, Oscar Peterson, Tommy Flanagan and Hank Jones, to name a few, Mraz appears for the first time publicly performing a program consisting entirely of his own compositions with legendary drummer Joey Baron (Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Tony Bennett, David Bowie, and Michael Jackson...) and stellar tenor saxophonist Rich Perry (Thad Jones/Mel Lewis now Vanguard Orchestra, Maria Schneider's Orchestra, Chet Baker, and Billy Hart). This totally original program has been recently recorded on CD and DVD for release later this year.

The Dvorak American Heritage Association presents An Evening Of Jazz With George Mraz & Friends at the Bohemian National Hall on Friday, February 26th at 7:30pm.

Blue Note Jazz Club presents JIMMY HEATH BIG BAND on Feb. 7.

Blue Note Jazz Club presents JIMMY HEATH BIG BAND from Feb. 2-7 with guest MC BILL COSBY (Feb. 2 only).

The Dvorak American Heritage Association will feature An Evening with George Mraz & Friends on Friday, February 26th. World-renowned jazz bassist George Mraz was presented The Medal of the President of The Czech Republic for Lifetime Achievement on his 65th birthday, June 10, 2009 at the Prague Castle. Known for his historic work with jazz icons Stan Getz, Oscar Peterson, Tommy Flanagan and Hank Jones, to name a few, Mraz appears for the first time publicly performing a program consisting entirely of his own compositions with legendary drummer Joey Baron (Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Tony Bennett, David Bowie, and Michael Jackson...) and stellar tenor saxophonist Rich Perry (Thad Jones/Mel Lewis now Vanguard Orchestra, Maria Schneider's Orchestra, Chet Baker, and Billy Hart). This totally original program has been recently recorded on CD and DVD for release later this year.

Blue Note Jazz Club presents JIMMY HEATH BIG BAND from Feb. 2-7 with guest MC BILL COSBY (Feb. 2 only).